In the Trunk

When Everything Feels Like Too Much

Pause. Pick One. Move.

There are days when the challenge isn’t one big problem — it’s everything happening at once.

The dishes on the counter.

An appointment later in the day.

A message that still needs a reply.

Noise in the room.

Something that was forgotten yesterday.

None of these things are overwhelming on their own. But when they pile up together, the brain can struggle to sort where to begin.

For many individuals with FASD, executive functioning differences make prioritizing and starting tasks harder than people realize. When too many demands compete for attention at the same time, the brain can stall — or feel flooded with information.

At FFAS, we often share simple strategies that help reduce that overload. One tool that can be helpful is:

👉Pause

Before trying to solve everything at once, take a moment to pause.

A short pause can interrupt the feeling of overwhelm and give the brain a chance to reset.

That might look like:

• Sitting quietly for a minute

• Stepping into a quieter space

• Taking a few steady breaths

• Looking away from the activity for a moment

Pausing isn’t avoiding the task — it’s giving the brain a chance to settle so thinking becomes clearer.

👉Pick One

When everything feels urgent, it can be difficult to decide where to start.

Instead of trying to solve the entire list of tasks, focus on one small next step.

Not the biggest task.

Not the one that fixes everything.

Just one manageable action.

For example:

• Put the laundry in the basket

• Send one message

• Put the dishes in the sink

Starting with one clear step can reduce pressure and make the situation feel more manageable.

👉Move

Once that first step is chosen, focus only on completing that step.

Sometimes momentum builds and the next task feels easier. Other times, completing just one thing helps restore a sense of control.

Either way, progress has been made — without needing to solve the entire day at once.

Why This Helps

Executive functioning plays a role in planning, prioritizing, and starting tasks. When stress increases and demands pile up, those skills can become harder to access.

It doesn’t make life perfectly organized — but it can make a busy moment feel more manageable.